Structural fabric



1mg.- 25, 136.1 F. H. RUPPEL 205mm STRUCTURAL FABRIC Filed June 19, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 [All/5N roa: Fredew'ck H. Ruppe/ A rro/alvav.

Aug. 25, 1936. F. H. RUPPEL $052,113

STRUCTURAL FABRIC I 7 Filed June 19, 1955 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 [/vms/vroQ; Freda r/ck H Ruppe/ Aug. 25, 1936. RUPPEL 2,052,113

L FABRIC Filed June 19, 1933 4 SheetsSheet 4 [/v va/v roe..- Frede 7/6,? H Rap 0:25

Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics 14 Claims.

My invention relates to a simple and eilicient means for use in structures, which will have the manifold purpose of supporting walls or wall facing materials, and with a minimum of material producing a maximum reinforcement of the structure against vertical andlateral loads which produce rupture or failure along diagonal lines.

The invention may be applied to wood, steel, and concrete construction practices wherein it will accomplish the results set forth in the preceding paragraph in a relatively cheap and eficient manner as compared with the present structural practices which the invention replaces. Study of the effects of earthquake shocks and of storms on various types of structures has shown the necessity for improved practices whereby structures may be equipped to better withstand the stresses which are produced therein. In the late earthquake catastrophe in California it has been definitely shown that proper bracing of building walls so as to withstand lateral forces is necessary to meet emergency conditions which sometimes arise. In a given area many structures properly reinforced-stood the effects of the severe shocks, whereas poorly constructed and poorly braced adjacent structures 'were either badly damaged or demolished. This same condition was found to exist in the hurricane area of the Florida coast where many frame structures, due to an efficient bracing of the walls thereof, successfully withstood the heavy wind pressure, whereas other buildings were badly damaged or swept away.

The study of damaged structures very clearly shows the directions in which the destroying or shearing forces are applied to the walls of a structure, and in nearly every instance failure of walls is shown along diagonal lines rather than along vertical or horizontal lines. This has indicated to the present inventor a lack of proper diagonal bracing in the wall structures, and accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive means which may be easily applied or utilized in a structure for the purpose of diagonally reinforcing the frame structure and the walls against failure along-diagonal lines of stress. The structural fabric forming a part of the present invention is preferably made of steel or other metal but in many instances may be made from other materials such as wood. Reinforcing fabrics are at present known to the building arts, such as square mesh reinforcement for concrete, triangular mesh reinforcing fabric, and metal lath. Although these fabrics, acting through the cement or plaster materials in which they are embedded, provide a measure of reinforcement or added rigidity to the structure, they do not efficiently accomplish the results obtained in the applicants present invention, since the use of these prior reinforcing fabrics does not follow the correct engineering principles from which the present invention has evolved. For example, square mesh fabric is employed in the reinforcement of concrete walls and cement or plaster non-bearing walls consisting of bars extending vertically and horizontally in crossing and spaced relation. This means of reinforcing is not efficient, since the diagonal forces found pre-eminent in the failure of structures must be taken either by the joints between the crossing metal members, the capacity of the cement or plaster material in shear, or these two combined. My present invention provides a wall frame consisting of vertical and horizontal members secured together in a manner to form wall spaces, and a metal fabric consisting of diagonally directed bars placed in crossing relation at acute angles to certain of the frame members, usually angles of 45 relative to horizontal and vertical and in perpendicular crossing relation to each other so that rectangular figures are formed. In the preferred practice of my invention these rectangular figures are square. The fabric thus formed has the peripheral portion thereof directly secured respectively to the horizontal and vertical framing members so that each bar relative to the two framing members to which it is attached operates to form a triangle, or, in other words, a figure having inherent rigidity. Instead of the employment of a single diagonal bracing member in a wall space, my invention comprehends a plurality of smaller diagonal reinforcing members which connect be tween spaced points'along the framing members and which are placed in crossing relation so that,

the bonding together of the crossed reinforcing members will serve to transmit forces from one set of diagonal reinforcing members to the other set. For example, when a force is applied to the panel, placing one set of diagonal reinforcing members in compression, the other, or crossing,

diagonal reinforcing members will function in tension to resist the load.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple metal fabric comprising reinforcing bars in diagonal and crossing relation, which may be readily applied to a hearing or non-bearing wall space in such a manner that it will reinforce the frame surrounding the space directly without consideration of the wall forming materials, such as cement, brick, or plaster, which may be secured to the fabric, and which, in addition to direct reinforcement of the structural frame will efliciently reinforce the wall slab in such a manner that the wall slab will have maximum resistance along the known lines of failure and give to the wall slab a definite capacity of reinforcing the frame structure in which it is carried or with which it cooperates in the building structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reinforced fabric of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph, which is adjustable and which, if desired, may be collapsed so as to occupy a very small space and when in collapsed form can be readily transported and handled without danger of bending or injury.

A further object of the invention is to provide.

new and improved walls, either of bearing or nonbearing type, which will materially contribute to the strength and rigidity of the structure with which they are used. Such walls are in the form of a complete steel truss having in itself sufficient capacity for carrying the plate loads imposed thereon and may be reinforced by cement, concrete, or other wall material to produce a strength greatly in excess of structures of equivalent cost made in accordance with the standard timber, steel, and reinforced concrete practices. Similar advantages are obtained when the fabric is employed in other than the vertical walls of thebuilding.

- It is a further object of the invention to provide simple means for securing the structural fabric in operative position within a wall and to the vertical and horizontal frame members of the building with which it is used to produce di-.

rect frame reinforcement without reference to the reinforcing capacity of the materials which may be supported by the fabric to form the wall slab.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident throughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to. the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. l is a view of a preferred form.of structural fabric.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the fabric extended.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one form of my new wall in which the structural fabric shown in Fig. 2 is employed to produce designated valuable results.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary illustration of the part of Fig. 3 designated by the dotted circle 4.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on a plane represented by the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion'of a wall produced in a frame structure such as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing the manner in which the fabric may be secured in a building on planes defined by the axes of tubular structural members forming a wall.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross section on a plane represented by the line 8--8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which the structural fabric may be employed in the form of an non-bearing wall.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which the structural fabric may be employed in conjunction with wood frammg.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the manner in which the structural fabric may be employed with a masonry wall.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view cooperating with Fig. 11 to show a means for tying the masonry wall to the reinforcing fabric.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective View showing an alternative form of bar employed in the structural fabric.

Fig. 14 is a view cooperating with Fig. 13 to show the manner in which the bars of the structural fabric may be rigidly secured together.

In the simple form of structural fabric l9 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 forming a part of my present invention, bars 20 and 2| are placed in crossing relation. The bars 2|] and 2| may be of any desired cross section permitting them to be perforated with openings 22. In Figs. 1 and 2 the bars are shown rectangular and are pivotally secured together in crossing relation by means of pivot members 23 which may be cotter pins, rivets, or bolts passing through selected holes 22 in the bars 20 and 2|. The bars 20 and 2| are so hinged that they will always be angular to the edges 24 and 25 of the fabric I9. When the fabric is extended, as shown in Fig. 2, for use in a wall, it is preferredthat the bars 20 and 2| shall extend diagonally with respect to vertical and horizontal and perpendicularly with respect to those bars crossed thereby, and the bars 20 and 2| are preferably placed equal distances apart so that when in extended position the fabric will produce square meshes. The lengths of the bars and the spacing thereof may be so proportioned as to give extended wall fabrics IQ of any desired height and length, but in view of the fact that the bars 20 I and 2| are diagonally hinged together, the height of the fabric may be changed by either extending or contracting the fabric. For example, one size of fabric may be made so as to have a standard height H of eight feet for use in walls having a height of eight feet. But the height of the fabric may be readily changed between the limits of seven and nine feet by collapsing or extending the fabric so as to produce a swinging movement of the bars 20 and 2| into different angular positions relative to vertical, this changing the mesh of the fabric slightly from square without materially affecting the reinforcing and supporting capacity of the fabric. In Fig. 2 the fabric I9 is shown extended so as to have a standard height H. At this time the bars 2|] and 2| are perpendicular to each other. Should the space into which the fabric I9 is to be fitted be of greater dimension, the ends of the fabric l9 may be moved relatively together so as to cause a movement of the bars 2|] and 2| into positions such as indicated by dotted lines 26, thereby increasing the height of the fabric and decreasing the length thereof. If at this time the fabric will not reach horizontally from end to end of the space, a short section of similar fabric may be bolted to one end of the fabric l9, it being a feature of the invention that the fabric may be readily out before or after its application to a building frame and may be readily joined to the building frame and to adjacent sections of fabric.

In Fig. 3 I show a portion of a building frame 21 employing tubular vertical members, such as a tubular corner post 28, and tubular studs 29. These vertical members 28 and 29 are shown extending upwardly from a floor line 3| and are connected together at a second floor level by means of beams 32 and connecting fittings 33. It is believed that my present invention contributes greatly to the simple use of tubular steel members in structures as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 646,579, filed December 10, 1932, and entitled Structure, now Patent No. 2,001,215, dated May 14, 1935. In this patent I disclose the manner in which pipes or metal tubes may be employed in steel structures with or without the necessity of pre-fabrication and with the same facility now found in the use of wood for structural purposes, but producing more satisfactory results with regard to strength, rigidity, permanence, and fire resistance. Above and below the beams 32 the vertical posts 28 and 29 define adjacent closed spaces 34 which, as shown, may be eight feet long and eight feet wide. Across these spaces 34 structural fabrics may be secured in end-to-end relation, the end of the first fabric, such as indicated as 09a, being connected to the end of the succeedingfabric indicated as l9b at their line of meeting B-B by use of pins, bolts, or cotters extending through openings 22 in the bars 20 and M at the ends of the respective fabric members, or in many instances by wire ties. between the ends of the fabric members, such wire ties being satisfactory where the structural fabric is to be embedded in a plaster or cement material. In a like manner, the spaces existing above the beams 32 may be equipped with the reinforcing fabric 69, but since this is merely duplication, it is not illustrated in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 3 the positions of door and window openings are indicated respectively by dotted rectangular Figures 35 and '36. The openings are not formed, however, until after the fabric is placed, after which ,the openings are outlined by securing vertical and horizontal strips or chords to the fabric by any suitable means such as bolting or tying. It will be understood that the character of the structure determines the size of bars employed in the fabric and the practice to be followed in securing the fabric to the frame structure and securing the opening-defining members to the fabric. For example, in light structures Where the wall slabs are to be formed by the application of cement with a cement gun, the fabric may be tied in place or secured by use of cotter pins, for the reason that the embedment of these structural parts in' the cement produces a bonding sufficient for structural purposes. Where the walls are to be formed by finished materials placed on opposite sides of the fabric, such, for instance, as steel lath and plaster, terra cotta, or brick, heavier bars 20 and fl are employed in the fabric, and the securing means for the fabric will consist of bolts, rivets, or possibly welded metal. Furthermore, it will be perceived that the fabric may be laid out in extended position on the ground so that the upper and lower edges of the fabric will correspond to the height of the spaces to which they are to be applied, and structural-opening-defining strips may be bolted thereto while such fabric members are in this reclining position, the bolting of a strip across .show a concrete foundation member 40 from which vertical frame members 4! and 42 of tubular form extend upwardly. Crossing the memin the foundation a strip of mesh metal fabric 45 in such position that a portion thereof will extend so as to overlap the lower edges of the fabric members I90 and Id so that they may be tied together by use of wire ties such as shown at it. The clamps 43 may each include a metal plate ll having openings therein through which tying means, such as bolts or cotter pins 48, may be passed, and having clamp means such as U-bolts passing around the pipe members M and 42. In the fabric H! a window opening 36a is indicated, which is defined by horizontal members, such as the member bl, and vertical members, such as the angle 52. a bar having a length greater than the width of the opening 36a and is secured in place by use of bolts 53, and the member 52 is of such length that it will preferably extend from the upper face of the foundation 40, across the bar 50, and to a point above the upper extremity of the opening 3612. After the members 5!! and 52 are placed, and the opening 36a has been thereby defined, the bars it and 29 which pass across the area of the opening are cut off along the inner edges of the members 5i and 52, as shown at 54. Vertical and horizontal wooden framing members 55 and 56 may be then placed so as to outline the window opening 36a and provide a window frame to which window. finish members may be subsequently secured. As shown at the right-hand portion of Fig. 6, a door opening bl may be in part defined by use of a verticalangle 58 bolted to the inner face of the fabric I90, after which the bars 2t and M of the fabric I90 extending across the area of the opening outlined by the member fat are cut off, and wooden door jambs 6b are secured in the opening bl. After the openings are thus formed, sheets bl of wall forming an insulating material such as known to the trade as Thermax, sheet rock, etc., may be secured behind the fabrics We and Mid, preferably with the rearward faces thereof aligned with the rearward portions of the members M and M. The sheets iii may be held in place by temporary bracing or may be secured to the members M and t2, and in the vertical positions shown provide a backing against which a cement mixture may be sprayed by use of a cement gun so as to build up a cement wall 62 embedding portions of themembers ll and the fabrics E90 and ltd, and being secured to the sheets 6i by the natural bonding or adhesion of the cement to the faces thereof and by tie members 63 which project from the joints between the members 6 l The cement wall thus formed entirely covers the strip of light mesh fabric 45 and thereby bonds the wall to the foundation. In the manner just described, a wall slab 62 is formed having great physical strength and being firmly tied to the foundation and to the structuralmembers ti and 42. The diagonal fabric members E90 and I911 reinforce the slab 62 very effectively and connect such slab into the structure in such a manner. that it may take vertical, horizontal, and diagonal stresses,

The member 5! consists of r under which circumstances it becomes a struc- In Figs. 4 and 5 I show the manner in which the fabric l9 of Fig. 1 may be directly secured to the beams 32. Along one edge of each beam 32 an angle may be secured so that one leg 66 thereof lies in a vertical plane. On the other leg 61 thereof a small angle 19 is secured to provide an upwardly extending flange 'll so that the angles 65. and 70 form part of the frame members of the building. The upper portions of the fabric l9 covering lower or first story panels of the frame structure of Fig. l are secured to the downwardly extending leg 96 by pin means l2, and the upwardly extending leg H of the angle l9 provides, a means for connecting the lower portion of an upper or second story fabric member 73 to the beams 32. As shown in Fig. 4, the vertical pipe members, such as the member 29, extend continuously upwardly from the foundation through the second floor level to the roof level without interruption, and the fitting 33 is made of split form and is applied to the exterior of the member 29 in an interlocked manner, such as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,001,215. By means of clips M riveted on the ends of the beams 32, such beams 32 are secured to ears l5 which project outwardly from the fitting 33 and are provided with bolts 76.

As mayhave been understood from the foregoing, a lighter weight reinforcing fabric-may be employed where the walls of the structure are to be made of cement, especially where such cement is applied by means of an air gun, for the reason that the body of cement cooperates with the diagonal reinforcing bars to form a reinforced slab having comparatively great strength in all directions.

It is well known that wall penetrations or openings very greatly decrease the horizontal ability of the penetrated walls by reason of the interruption of the continuity of the wall slab. In my invention the diagonal crossed reinforcing provides a definite tie between two parts of a wall slab which are separated by a wall opening. Whenever a horizontal or vertical member is bolted to the crossed diagonal reinforcing members, a truss is thereby formed. Accordingly, when the upper, lower, and side edges of a fabric member l9 are bolted to horizontal and vertical frame members of a structure, a steel truss is thereby formed. When window or door defining members are bolted to an intermediate portion.

of the fabric 19, each of these members introduces the chord of a strut relative to the diagonal bars which it crosses. This will be further discussed relative to Fig. 10.

Many light structures may be made entirely of tubular members. In Fig. 7 I show a portion of a frame including vertical members 8! which extend upwardly from base fittings 82 secured to a floor member 83 which may be of concrete or other material. Connectedto the members 8| by means of fittings 84 are horizontal pipe members 85. The axes of the pipe members BI and 85 lie in a vertical plane. The structural fabric members 86 may be secured in the panels formed by the members BI and 85 in this vertical plane defined by the axes of such members, instead of across the faces of the members 8i and 85 as shown in Fig. 3. For this purpose, clamps 81 are employed to directly secure the elements of the fabric to the pipe frame members. Each clamp preferably consists of cooperating parts 88 and 90 adapted to be clamped upon a pipe member, such as the member 85, as shown in Fig. 8. The flanges 9| of the members 88 and 90 provide means through which pin members such as bolts 92 may be passed for connecting to the edge portions of the structural fabric 86. The lower edge of the fabric may be directly secured to the 11001 or sill structure 33 by means of small angle clips 93. Without cement or plaster used in conjunction therewith, the structural fabric 86 may be employed to support the floor load which may be applied to the horizontal pipe members 85. At the same time the bars from which this structural fabric 96 is formed effectively reinforce the wall structure against horizontal forces such as due to pressure of wind against walls of the structure disposed perpendicularly with relation to the walls shown in Fig. '7. The addition of surfacing material of any kind to the reinforced walls shown in Fig. 7 has the effect of increasing the rigidity thereof. The preferred wall forming material is of course cement applied by use of cement guns, but ordinary metal lath and plaster will add to the natural rigidity of the truss-like member formed by the fabric 86 in conjunction with the vertical and horizontal members 8!, 83, and 85. It will be perceived that a wall employing the structure shown in Fig. 7 will, in addition to its marked sway-bracing capacity, have the ability to carry vertical loads and accordingly in the structure becomes a bearing wall.

The diagonal mesh structural fabric also has great usefulness in the erection of non-bearing or dividing walls in a structure. It provides a cheap and eflicient substitute for the relatively expensive practices now pursued, namely, the erection of hollow tile barriers or the installation of horizontal and vertical reinforcing rods with subsequently applied lath and plaster. In Fig. 9 I show a portion of a floor member 88 disposed below a ceiling member 90' which may be a ceiling joist or girder. A structural fabric l9 may be readily secured in a vertical plane between the members 88' and 90' by use of horizontal angles 9| and 92'. In a like manner, not shown, the ends of the fabric l9 may be secured to vertical members of the structure supporting the fabric 19, after which a suitable surfacing may be applied to the fabric in the form of a layer of metal lath 93' and subsequently applied plaster as shown at 94. The structural fabric I9 may be readily transported in collapsed position, may be quickly extended to its operating form, and may be secured in position with a minimum of time and labor. Byuse of the structural fabric, many practices of installing non-bearing or partition walls are improved. A non-bearing wall such as shown in Fig. 9 has the capacity of adding to the rigidity of the structure to which it is applied owingto the fact that the edges of the fabric l9 are tied to horizontal and vertical parts of the structure.

In light building construction walls may be formed on the ground or on a previously erected building floor, as is common in the framing of wooden walls, and such walls may be then raised to and secured in vertical position. Such walls may have wooden or metal frame members, and all of the wall openings may be outlined and out while the walls are in horizontal position. My invention is of especial utility in wooden frame structures for the purpose of giving to such structures maximum rigidity and ability against horizontal stresses and also stresses due to founda tion settlings which cause unsightly cracks in the plaster finish. In Fig. 10 I show a woodframed wall 95 including studs 96, floor sills 97, and an upper horizontal member 98. Across the substantially rectangular frame formed by these members, a sheet of structural fabric I9 is extended and is secured directly thereto by use of screws or nails. may be of iron, is secured across the fabric, and vertical 'door-framing members Hill, which may be of metal or wood, are placed so as to extend preferably from the floor line to the upper horizontal member 98. A door opening llll is in this manner formed. Wherever the members 99 and lllll cross bars 20 and 2| of the fabric l9, securing means are applied. It is desirable to extend the ends of the member 99 beyond the sides of the openings llll so that the member 99 will form a comparatively long truss in conjunction with the upper horizontal member 98 and the portionsof the bars 20 and 2| extending across the member 99. Each of the members loll forms a vertical chord of a truss member standing on end, which truss member is directly connected to the horizontal truss member of which the member 99 is a chord, due to the fact that the members 20 and El extend from the horizontal truss section mitted from the member 98 as indicated by the arrow lll3 of Fig. 10 will be divided between the diagonal members HM and M5 formed by bars of the fabric l 9, which forces will be transmitted to the horizontal member 99 and will produce tension therein. Should a force be applied lengthwise of the wall, so as to place a diagonal member MB or Zl in tension, the chord effect resulting from the connection of the diagonalmembers Zll and fl with vertical and horizontal members will result in placing crossing bars in compression, and vice vcrsa.

The structural fabric may be also advantageously employed in conjunction with masonry walls so as to reinforce the same in a manner to give them a resistance against earthquake shocks, which resistance is not found in masonry walls as ordinarily erected. For the purpose of illustration, I show in Fig. 11 a portion of a brick wall llu laid upon a foundation member lll, it being intended that the bricks 6 l2 of this wall shall be representative of the various forms of members commonly laid one upon the other with cement or plaster to form bearing or non-bearing walls in a structure. Wherethe masonry wall is to be made relatively wide or heavy, the structural fabric l9 may be placed vertically between two brick walls, or, as shown in Fig. 11, the structural fabric is may be placed along one side of the wall M0. The lower edge of the fabric is is preferably directly secured to the lower edge portion of the brick wall or to the foundation member l l l on which the brick. wall is laid. For this purpose I have shown an angle llt secured to the foundation member by means of bolts or studs M4 and secured to the lower edge of the fabric l9 by boltmeans H5.

With joints of cement H6, courses lll of bricks ll2 are consecutively laid in the approved manner. Between selected courses, for instance, every third course, a longitudinal reinforcing member is extended and embedded in the cement joint between the courses, and this reinforcing member is tied to the structural fabric l9. For the purpose of illustration I have shown steel A horizontal strip 89, which rods H8 extended between selected courses lll of the bricks l l2, with tie members I20 in the form of headed bars adapted to be passed through openings 22 in the bars 20 or Zl of the fabric Ill. The pins or tie members l2ll each have a rightwardly bent end portion l2l adapted to lie along a portion of a rod H8 and to be clamped thereto 'by means of a metal clip l22 which may be applied to the members H8 and MI by the use of a simple form of clamping pincers. A

masonry wall constructed in the manner shown will be effectively reinforced in the plane defined by the wall and also laterally. As in other types of structures, the lines or planes of failure and cracking of masonry walls are diagonal, and my means of reinforcing places steel members in diagonal relation to the wall wherein such members most eihciently resist rupture. These diagonal members are placed in crossing relation and are preferably evenly spaced at such distance that all parts of the wall area are effectively reinforced. A very satisfactory masonry wall may be produced by subsequently adding a coating of cement material to the inner face of the reinforced wall shown in Fig. 11 so thatthis cement material will be bonded to the inner faces of the bricks and to the diagonal bars Zll and H of the fabric i9. Accordingly, in conjunction with the brick wall a reinforced cement wall is formed which is well bonded to the brick wall and cooperates therewith in forming a durable reinforced wall structure.

I have previously herein shown a reinforcing structural fabric l9 employing metal bars of rectangular cross section and having openings preferably evenly spaced therealong. For greater strength and lateral rigidity in the reinforcing fabric, various light structural shapes may be employed as the diagonal bars from which the fabric is made. cate that the structural fabric may be made from light structural channels ltll and l3l hinged together in crossing relation by means of pivot pins M2 drilled to receive cotter pins M3. In the manner described relative to the bars Eli and fl of Fig. 2, the channel-shaped bars ltll and l3l are provided with openings ltd throughout the length thereof through which fastening means may be passed for the purpose of securing the fabric to other structural members. As shown in Fig. 14., the channel-shaped bars ltd and ltl may be secured together in end-toend relation by use of metal bars or blocks H36 of a size to-fit within the channels or grooves of the members H0 and l3l-, these bars I36 having properly spaced openings l3! so as to receive pin means, such as cotter pins E38, in positions to align with the openings ltd of thebars ltd and llil.

In all of the modifications of the invention herein disclosed, the elements of the metal fabric are secured directly to columns, floor beams, foundation, and other frame members of the building. By the use of the expression directly secured or thelike, as employed in my claims, I intend to define and embrace the various structures herein described and shown in the attached drawings, for example, the attachment of the fabric as by welding, clamping, tying, nailing, or bolting, including such attaching structures as the fittings d3 of Figure 6, the clamps Bl andclips 93 of Figure 7, the angle irons forming part of the frame members as shown in Figures 4 and 11, and the functional equivalents thereof, wherein the fabric is se- For example, in Fig. 13 I indi-' cured directly to the frame members as contradistinguished from attaching a fabric merely to the boundary members of a prefabricated panel intended to occupy only a portion of a space defined by the frame members of the building.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be employed in substan- 'tially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full'scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A building structure comprising a building frame including frame members secured to each other to define closed spaces, metal fabric extending across said spaces and having a set of spaced elementsextending at an acute angle to certain of said frame members and also intersecting other of said frame members, a second set of spaced elements crossing the elements of the first mentioned set, said elements being secured directly to said frame members at the points of intersection therewith and said elements of said first set being fastened to said elements of said second set at their crossing points, said frame members being of smaller section than that necessary to carry the full structural loads of the building, said fabric being of suflicient strength to carry and distribute a substantial portion of said structural loads.

2. A building structure comprising a building frame including frame members secured to each other to define closed spaces and metal fabric extending across a plurality of said spaces, said metal fabric having a first set of spaced parallel elements positioned at an acute angle to certain of said frame members and a second set of spaced parallel elements crossing the elements of said first set, said elements intersecting said frame members and being secured directly thereto at the points of intersection therewith, the elements of the first set being pivotally connected to the elements of the second set at their crossing points, said fabric being of suificient strength to carry a substantial portion of the structural loads of said building.

3. A building structure comprising a building frame including vertical frame members and horizontal frame members secured to said vertical frame members to form the framework of a building, said vertical and horizontal members defining closed wall spaces; metal fabric extending across said spaces and having a first set of spaced elements extending in the general direction of one diagonal of said spaces and a second set of spaced elements intersecting the elements of said first-mentioned set and extending in the general direction of the other diagonal of said spaces, said elements extending to and being directly secured tn said vertical and horizontal members at the points of intersection therewith and said elements of said first set being secured to the elements of said second set at the points of intersection of said elements; said frame members being of smaller section than that necessary to carry the full structural loads of the building; said fabric being of sufficient strength to carry and distribute a substantial portion of the structural loads of said building inthe plane of said fabric; and means for stiflening said fabric a ainst bending out of the plane of said fabric.

4. A building structure comprising column members and beam members secured to said columns to form the framework of a building, said column and beam members defining closed wall spaces, metal fabric extending across said wall spaces and having a first set of substantially uniformly spaced elements extending in the general direction of one diagonal of a wall space and a second set of substantially'unifcrmly spaced elements intersecting the elements of said firstmentioned set and extending'in the general direction of the other diagonal of said wall space, said elements'being secured directly to said column and beam members at the points of intersection therewith, said elements of said first set being pivotally connected to the elements of said second set at the points of intersection of said elements, said fabric being of sufficient strength to carry and distribute a, substantial portion of the structural loads of said building in the planes of said wall spaces, and means to stiffen said fabric against bending out of the planes of said wall spaces, whereby the stresses on said beam and column members are substantially uniformly distributed throughout.

5. A building structure comprising a building frame including frame members secured to each other at substantially right angles to form the framework of a building and define closed spaces, metal fabric extending across said spaces and having a set of spaced elements extending in the general direction of one diagonal of said spaces 5 and a second set of spaced elements intersecting the elements of said first-mentioned set and extending in the general direction of the other diagonal of said spaces to define relatively, small and substantially equi-lateral openings between said elements, said elements being of sufficient strength to carry a substantial portion of the structural loads of said building in the plane of said fabric and being secured directly to said frame members at the point of intersection therewith, and a cement material surrounding said fabric to stiffen the same against deflection out of the planes of said fabric andto fill the openings in said fabric, the elements of the said fabric being pivotally-connected at their points of intersection, whereby the cement material in said openings is subjected to compressive stresses due to stresses applied to said building structure.

6. A building structure comprising frame members secured to each other to form the framework of a building and define closed spaces, metal fabric extending across each of said spaces and having a first set of relatively closely spaced elements extending in the general direction of one diagonal of said space and a second set of relatively closely spaced elements intersecting the elements of the first set and extending in the general direction of the other diagonal of said space, said elements being secured directly to the frame members at the points of intersection therewith, the elements of said first-mentioned set being connected to the elements of said second set at the points of intersection therewith, the fabric of certain of said spaces having structural openings therein with chord members surrounding said openings and extending therebeyond, the elements of said metal fabric being secured to said chord members at the points of intersection therewith and being cut away adjacent said chord members to provide said openings, said fabric being of a suflicient strength to carry a substantial portion of the structural loads of said building in the planes of said fabric, and

means to stiffen said fabric against deflection out of the planes of said fabric.

'7. The method of erecting a building which comprises the steps of securing building frame members together to define aclosed space, placing across said space metal fabric having afirst set of spaced elements and a second set of spaced elements crossing the elements of said first set, securing the elements of said fabric to said frame members, securing chord members defining a structural opening to the elements of said metal fabric, and cutting away the metal fabric within the opening defined by said chord members.

8. The method of erecting a building which comprises the steps of securing building frame members together to define closed spaces, extending a metal fabric having a first set of spaced parallel elements and a second set of spaced parallel elements crossing the elements of said first set and pivotally connected thereto at the points of intersection, placing the same across said spaces, securing the elements of said fabric to said frame members, securing metal members defining structural openings to the elements of said metal fabric, cutting away the metal fabric within the opening defined by said metal members, and applying a material capable of stiffening said fabric against deflection out of the plane of said units to said fabric to produce a structure wherein said fabric carries a substantial portion of the structural load of said building.

9. The method of erecting a building which comprises forming a building frame by positioning and securing together frame members to define closed spaces, placing across said spaces a metal fabric having a first set of spaced parallel elements and a second setof spaced parallel elements crossing said first set and fastened to the elements of the first set at the crossing points such that said elements make acute angles with certain of said frame members, securing the ele- .ments of said fabric to said frame members, se-

curing chord members defining structural openings within said units to the elements of said metal fabric, cutting away the metal fabric within said openings, and applying to said fabric a material capable of stiffening the same against deflection out of the planes of said units to produce a structure wherein said fabric carries a substantial portion of the loads of said building.

10. A building structure comprising a building frame including frame members secured to each other to define closed spaces, metal fabric occupying said spaces and having primary spaced elesecured directly to said frame members at the points of intersection therewith, said primary elements being fastened to said secondary elements intermediate the points at which said elements are secured to said frame members, said fabric being of sufficient strength to carry and distribute a substantial portion of the full structural loads of the building.

11. In a building structure of the character de-.

scribed, a building frame including frame members secured to each other so as to define closed spaces, and cooperating structural means extending across said spaces, said means comprising spaced elements secured to and extending at acute angles and from spaced points along certain of said frame members and also intersecting other of said frame members, and spaced elements crossing said first named spaced elements and intersecting certain of said frame members at spaced points therealong, said elements being secured directly to said frame members at the points of intersection as to form a fabric of sufficient strength to carry and distribute a substantial portion of the load of which said building structure is capable.

12. In a building structure of the character described, a building frame including frame members secured to each other so as to define a closed space, cooperating structural means extending across said space, said means comprising spaced elements secured to and extending at acute angles to certain of said frame members, and spaced elements crossing said first named elements and intersecting certain of said frame members, said second named elements being secured directly to said last named frame members at the points of intersection therewith, said elements being of such section so as to form a fabric of sufficient strength to carry and distribute a substantial portion of the structural load of the building structure.

13. In a building structure of the character described, a building frame including frame members secured to each other so as to define closed spaces, and cooperating structural meansextending across said spaces, said means comprising spaced elements secured to and extending at acute such section as to form a fabric of sufiicient strength to carry and distribute a substantial portion of the load of which said building structure is capable, and means stiifening said fabric against deflection in a direction normal to the plane of said fabric.

14. In a building structure of the character described, a building frame including frame members secured to each other so as to define closed spaces, and unitary cooperating structural means extending across a plurality of said spaces, said means comprising spaced elements secured to and extending at acute angles to certain of said frame members and also intersecting other of said frame members, and spaced elements crossing said first-named spaced elements and intersecting certain of said frame members, said elements being secured directly to said frame members at the points of intersection therewith, said elements being of such sectionas'to form a fabric of suflicient-strength to carry and distribute a substantial portion of the load of which said building structure is capable.

FREDERICK H. RUPPEL. 

